Drain fixture



Patented July 20, 1926. j

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. n

ROBERT C. ZANNOTH, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 ROBERTS BRASS COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 0F WISCONSIN.'

DRAIN FIXTURE.

Application led October 5, 1825. Serial No. 60,653.

This invention relates to drain fixtures for tubs, basins, sinks, and the' like.

It contemplates more especially the provision of instrumentalities for controlling the discharge of waste by mechanical valve lifting means so arranged as to permit lateral as well as longitudinal movement of the lifting rod.

In the installation of drain iixtures considerabley diiiiculty has been encountered in aligning the lifting rod with the discharge valve, and with the usual arrangement of parts the valve mechanism would stick or become jammed within its housing whenever the rod and valve were not in exact alignment. Y

One object of the present invention is to overcome the diiiiculties now experienced by providing simple means for insuring the successful operation of the drain valve even if the lifting rod and the valve are not in exact alignment. This is accomplished by the provision of a simple flexible joint preferably a universal joint intermediate -the lifting rod and the valve so as t0 allow for any accidental deviation in the longitudinal axial relation of the rod and the valve, such as may and does occur in its installation.

A further object is to provide means in connection with the overflow pipe from which the valve lifting rod extends for per* mitting lateral displacement of the rod, and also for automatically keeping the pipe closed so as to prevent any foreign matter from falling into said overiow pipe.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

To more fully comprehend the invention, reference is directed to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view of a drain fixture constructed in accordance with the present invention, the fixture being shown in connection with the usual bath-tub. l

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the universal joint shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the overflow pipe closure shown in Figure 1.

The fixture selected for illustration is shown attached to the usual bath-tub 107 and comprises a casing 11 surrounding a drain tube 12 both communicating with a discharge or soil pipe 13 through the usual T-fitting 14. An elbow 15 is disposed from the bottom and one end of the tub and is adapted to register with both the overow opening 16 and the soil pipe 13 by virtue of the T-iitting 14 above referred to. This arrangementafl'ords a water fiow from the basin directly to the soil pipe 13, or up through the usual casing 11, around and down tube 12, through the hollow valve 17 and into the usual soil pipe 13 by virtue of the passage 13 which communicates with the valve seat 22 in the T-iitting 14.

The casing 11 in this instance extends vertically and in axial relation to the soil pipe 13 and both are removed suiiiciently from the basin in Order to permit them to` be encased in the wall of the' room to which the basin or tub is attached. This casing 11 is in threaded engagement with the Tefitting or housing 11i at the outlet 18 and holds within it the drain tube 12. The longitudinal axis of the drain tube 12 and the casing 11 coincide so that there is sufiicient space for the water to pass around the tube 12 from the opening 19 of the housing 14. To insure this exact central relation and to keep the drain tube 12 always concentric to the casing 11, the extremities of the tube 12- are provided with integral lugs 2O which are spaced at an angular distance of 90 degrees 'with respect to each other. The water is free to flow upwardly between the lugs which occupy very little space within the pipe.

Extending from the lower extremity of the drain tube 12, is the hollow valve 17 which has its ends converging at 21 so as to define bearing faces similar iny contour to the face of the valve seat 22. The converg Ving faces 21 are symmetrically arranged with respect to the valve body 17 so that when one end becomes worn it may be reversed; thus giving the valve a duplex bearing surface which adds to its utility. The ends 21 are threaded so that the valve can be readilyreversed on ther extremity of the drain tube 12.

A flexible joint is inserted intermediate the lifting rod 23 and the drain tube 12 so that the satisfactory operation and reciprocation of the valve 17 does not depend upon the alignment of the rod with the valve mechanism, but permits some deviation of the rod without impairing the successful operation of the valve. The preferred embodiment of the flexible connection is a simple universal joint (see Figure 2) Which comprises a block 24 having communicating holes 25 therethrough on each of its four sides. Retaining loops 26 oppositely disposed With respect to each other pass through the holes 25, and serve as connectors for the drain tube 12 and the crank arm 27 which in turn is actuated by the usual lever not shown. This flexible connectionshould be such as to withstand tensile and Compres-Y sive reactions. The lifting rod 28 may be hinged at 28 to another rod 29 in order to insure greater flexibility.

The fact that the rod 23 must be free to move laterally in the event that it is not in exact alignment with the axis the drain tube and valve necessitates the large opening 30 in the cap 3l which acts as a closure for the casing l1; however, it is desirable and necessary to prevent any foreign matter from finding its ivay into the casing 1l, since this would tend to clog or cause unusual Wear on the moving parts housed therein. Ac.- cordingly a cap or washer 32 is superimposed on the threaded cap 31, and is provided With a hole 33 just large enough to receive the rod 23. The washer 32 slides freely over the cap 3l as the rod 23 moves laterally, and as apparent from the drawing, the Washer is large enough to cover the opening 30 regardless of its position there- Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinabove specifically described, Without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a drain fixture the combination of a casing, a drain tube reciprocable therein, guide lugs on said tube, engageable with the inner Walls of said casing, a hollow valve secured to one extremity of said tube, a rod projecting from said casing and secured to said tube to effect reciprocation thereof, a universal joint associated With said rod to permit lateral movement thereof, and a closure for said easing automatically adjustable to permit lateral movement of said rod.

2. In a drain fixture the combination of an overflow passage, a drain passage, a valve to control the flow through the drain passage, means to actuate said valve, and a closure for the upper end of said overflow passage comprising a cap threaded to the easing, said cap having a hole in its flat surface, and a Washer slidable over said hole and provided with an opening to receive the valve actuating means.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 23 day of September, 1925.

ROBERT C. ZANNOTI-I. 

